Federal Judge Rules Indiana's Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Indiana's ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional.

Credit Courtesy / Wikimedia Commons

A federal judge Wednesday struck down Indiana’s ban on same sex marriage, saying marrying the person you love, regardless of gender, is a fundamental right.

Listen

Listening...

/

0:44

Listen to Brandon Smith's story on a ruling that Indiana's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

In his ruling, Judge Richard Young says he’s never seen a “phenomenon” throughout the federal court system like the recent cases regarding same-sex marriage.

Lambda Legal, the gay rights organization that represents the couples challenging Indiana’s ban, says there have been 19 federal rulings in same-sex marriage suits in the last year – and all 19 have gone in favor of same-sex couples.

Young says, when gender and sexual orientation are taken away, same-sex couples are no different than any other…and that, in time, Americans will refer to it simply as marriage, and not same-sex marriage.

His ruling orders the state to immediately recognize otherwise valid marriages between same-sex couples.

In a statement, Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office says it will quickly ask for a stay of the ruling, pending appeal.